Provillus Hair Treatment

Provillus is a "hair growth treatment" that can be used by both men and women which claims to be clinically proven to regrow hair. The product appeals to many because it contains natural ingredients and may be less expensive than finasteride, a prescription medication taken orally, for treating hair loss. The treatment costs roughly $40 a month as of 2010, and it is available without a prescription. Please speak with your physician before purchasing or taking Provillus.

Ingredients

The Provillus package includes two formulas. The first formula is an oral dietary supplement complex that contains vitamin B6, biotin, magnesium, zinc, saw palmetto and a 30 mg proprietary blend of stinging nettle, pumpkin, eleuthero root, uva-ursi and muira puama p. The manufacturer recommends adults take two capsules daily with a meal and water, or as directed by a physician. The second formula contains the FDA-approved hair loss topical solution minoxidil. The men's version contains 5 percent strength minoxidil and the woman's version contains 2 percent strength minoxidil. Minoxidil should be applied to areas of thinning scalp hair two times a day.

Function

The ingredients in the Provillus "natural formula" claim to slow or stop hair loss and encourage the regrow of hair. About 95 percent of hair loss cases are caused by androgenic alopecia or DHT-related hormonal hair loss. Addressing this hormonal pathway is critical to stopping hair loss and encourage regrowth. The dietary supplement saw palmetto is included in the Provillus formula to decrease DHT levels. Saw palmetto acts as a natural alternative to finasteride. Finasteride, considered to be the "first line of defense" against hair loss, can lower DHT levels by up to 60 percent, according to the American Hair Loss Association. The remaining ingredients in Provillus, including minoxidil, are said to encourage healthy hair growth and provide the adequate nutrients for hair regrowth.

Expert Insight

Dr. William Rassman, founder of the New Hair Institute and member of the International Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons, believes the claims made about Provillus are "hard to believe." There are no true scientific studies on the dietary supplement for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. He says he does not believe saw palmetto works in treating hair loss and notes that it is not FDA-approved to treat androgenic alopecia. Dr. Rassman does not believe the formula is unsafe if used at the directed doses.

Warning

Aside from the topical minoxidil solution being FDA-approved to treat hair loss, Provillus does not contain any other ingredients that are FDA-approved to treat hair loss. Although Provillus contains some individual ingredients that are FDA-approved for a variety of treatments, Provillus itself is not FDA-approved.

Considerations

Dr. Rassman suggests that if Provillus were to regrow any hair, it would be solely from the minoxidil--which can be purchased over-the-counter on its own at a much lower price. Although minoxidil has been clinically proven to restore hair, since it has no effect on the DHT hormonal pathways that cause hair loss, physicians at the American Hair Loss Association regard minoxidil to be only "marginally effective" in the fight against hair loss. With the exception of the very small 30 mg blend of herbs, the majority of ingredients in the Provillus formula can be obtained in most multivitamins.